Lens Guides

Sigma DP2 Merrill Model Shoot with Robert Lopshire

Longtime readers of the Sigma blog will recall that last year we spent a day with photographer Robert Lopshire and the Sigma SD1.

So when the first shipments of the Sigma DP2 Merrill arrived we asked Robert if he’d be interested in doing a follow-up to this story featuring this amazing compact camera and his immediate email reply was simply this: YES! When? And then right after we posted this First Impressions blog post, we started making plans to spend a day with Robert Lopshire and model Abbie Davidson and the Sigma DP2 Merrill. We spent a Tuesday in early September at Robert’s home studio, and he and his team made a series of amazing photos.

Photographer Robert Lopshire swapped out his DSLR for the Sigma DP2 Merrill for a recent model shoot with Abbie Davidson. Sigma DP2 Merrill 1/125 F8.0 ISO 100. (Make-up: Cristin Rose Goldsmith, Hair: Tarissa Gesner) ©2012 Robert Lopshire. Other equipment used: Bowens Gemini 500R monolight (key light) w/ 22" Beauty dish. 2 Impact VSD160 monolights (backdrop lights). MicroSync Wireless Strobe Sync System.

Robert admitted to being just a little nervous about swapping out the DSLR for a compact camera, especially since this was a full-production shoot with a make-up artist and a hair stylist, but that quickly gave way to amazement and excitement as he checked out the images captured by the Sigma DP2 Merrill, first on the LCD, and then on his big computer monitor during a break in the photo session.

100% pixel level view of a detail of the previous image. Photographer: Robert Lopshire, Model: Abbie Davidson. Sigma DP2 Merrill 1/125 F8.0 ISO 100. (Make-up: Cristin Rose Goldsmith, Hair: Tarissa Gesner) ©2012 Robert Lopshire

“Images straight from the DP2 Merrill are stunning. The detail is amazing! I can’t get over the photos we made!”

The Sigma DP2 Merrill for a recent model shoot with Abbie Davidson, captured against white seamless by Robert Lopshire 1/125 F/8.0 ISO 100.. Sigma DP2 Merrill 1/125 F8.0 ISO 100. (Make-up: Cristin Rose Goldsmith, Hair: Tarissa Gesner) ©2012 Robert Lopshire. (Other equipment used: Bowens Gemini 500R monolight (key light) w/ 22
Model Abbie Davidson was lit with a big reflector just out of frame by assistant Tonette Madsen in this outdoor portrait.Sigma DP2 Merrill 1/200 F4.0 ISO 100. (Make-up: Cristin Rose Goldsmith, Hair: Tarissa Gesner) ©2012 Robert Lopshire

“This would be an awesome camera for fashion photographers or any photographer that needs images with incredible detail.”

Another outdoor portrait, this one at 1/250 at F4.0, and converted to classic monochrome. Same credits as above.
Here is a 100% pixel view of the above image. Notice both the amazingly sharp detail on the model's face, as well as the lovely bokeh quality of the background thanks to the rounded aperture blades in the 30mm F2.8 lens.

“The DP2 is feels solidly built and well put together, the camera has a good weight to it and seems pretty well balanced. It feels right in my hands.”

1/125 @ F7.1 ISO 100. Notice the image quality edge to edge in this frame. Model Abbie Davidson. © Robert Lopshire. Same Make-up/Hair credits as above.

“The big, bright screen made navigation and framing the image easy, and it did not take long to get the settings squared away for our shoot. I wish I had some more time to shoot with the SigmaDP2 Merrill so I could really dig into it a bit deeper, but all together the system seems very intuitive.”

Here is a monochrome variation of the previous image at 1/125 F8.0 ISO 100. Same credits as above © Robert Lopshire. Whether full color or monochrome, the 46 megapixel APS-C Foveon Direct Image sensor inside the SIgma DP2 Merill captures extraordinary detail for stunning images.

Check out this behind the scenes video from this shoot!

And view more photos from the set on Robert Lopshire’s website!

Comments (4)
  1. Fernando Botelho says:

    Amazing photos you took with the DP2 Merrill. I love my DP2 and I am saving for the Merrill.

    Can you tell me what was used to fire the ain light? Which king of triggers you used in the shoot.

    Thanks,

    Fernando

  2. sigmaauthor says:

    Fernando, Rob was using a Microsync Wireless Strobe system mounted in the hotshoe of the DP2 Merrill.

  3. William says:

    Hi, great post here! I’m interested to know what is the highest flash sync speed of the DP2 Merrill?

  4. sigmaauthor says:

    Hi William, the DP2 Merrill will sync all the way up to top shutter speed of 1/2000 second. Stay tuned for some high-speed experimental shots that I’ve been working on! ~ Jack for Sigma

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